Jamison Olave

Acquired: Signed to senior contract on loan from Colombian side Deportivo Cali on 2/20/08

It seemed to take a couple of years for MLS fans and pundits to fully appreciate the depth of talent that RSL center back Jamison Olave possessed. However, now that he’s a known commodity, the RSL center back can’t seem to stop the plaudits coming his way, the ultra-athletic center back garnering spots on the MLS Best XI and MLS All-Star teams for a second consecutive season in 2011. He began the year by not only displaying his usual defensive prowess, but also securing himself an even bigger spot in RSL lore courtesy of some offense, as it was his goal at Deportivo Saprissa that would swing the CONCACAF Champions League Semifinal series the Utah side’s way.

While RSL fans loved seeing “The Verb” represent the Claret-and-Cobalt against Manchester United in the All-Star Game once again, they were also left holding their collective breath after a sliding tackle sidelined him with an MCL sprain in his left knee. Success, it appeared, might come at a price. However, Olave would return after missing only a month, using his unique blend of size and closing speed – in addition to a growing sense of comfort with the ball at his feet – to keep opposing forwards on lockdown. Olave would again suffer from injury, this time a quadriceps strain, during the 2011 postseason, but the 2012 preseason sees the Colombian fit as a fiddle and ready to lead the RSL backline to more impressive and historic numbers – more specifically the ones in the “W” and “SO” columns. And, speaking of numbers, the 30-year-old Olave will hit a nice round one the next time he sees the field, as his next appearance on the field will mark his 100th in MLS regular season play.

MLS Career

2016: Olave featured in 17 games for RSL in 2016, 16 of which he started. Olave scored two goals on the year, both of which were game-winners. His first came in the 87th minute against the Seattle Sounders on March 12, with his second on August 20 against FC Dallas. In 1,482 minutes for the club he constantly posed an aerial threat for opponents on attacking set pieces while helping patrol his own penalty area.

2015: Olave started in all 22 of his regular season appearances for RSL in his return from two years away with the New York Red Bulls. He finished with one goal and one assist in league play, but added a crucial goal in CONCACAF Champions League play to clinch advancement to the quarterfinal round.

2014: Olave logged career-highs with 28 starts and 2,519 minutes in his second season with the Red Bulls.

2013: In his first season with the New York Red Bulls, Olave had a career-high four goals in 29 appearances, 27 of them starts. He helped anchor the defense that earned the Red Bulls the club's first ever trophy with the Supporters' Shield.

2012: Olave started in 21 matches for RSL, leading the club to its fifth consecutive playoff appearance.

2011: Started all 24 of his regular season appearances, both the second-most among RSL defenders, and added two goals and as assist along the way … Also started all six CONCACAF Champions League Championship Stage contests, missing only 45 minutes due to a R hamstring strain on 3/15 v. Saprissa (Semifinals, Leg 1) … Made up for lost time in the second leg on 4/05 @ Saprissa, his 61’ goal counting as the series-winner, advancing RSL 3-2 on aggregate despite a 1-2 loss in the match … Early goal on 6/08 @ CLB gave RSL an early lead in an eventual 1-2 defeat … Assist on 7/04 v. NE (Espindola, 83’) helped RSL to a dramatic 3-3 draw and marked his first helper since joining RSL prior to the start of the 2008 campaign (87th regular season game) … Late goal on 7/23 v. SJ finished the scoring in RSL’s 4-0 rout … Suffered Grade 1 MCL sprain in Left Knee during 2011 MLS All-Star Game vs. Manchester United on 7/27 at Red Bull Arena, keeping him out of action for a month (7/30 v CLB through 8/20 @ HOU) … Returned to action on 8/27 @ CHV and went on to start nine of RSL’s final 10 regular season contests … Started RSL’s playoff opener on 10/29 v. SEA, but was forced to leave Leg One of the West. Conference Semifinal Series after 32 minutes due to a R quadriceps strain … Missed the second leg on 11/02 @ SEA, but made miraculous turnaround to grind out an 82-minute effort on 11/06 @ LA in the Western Conf. Championship.

2010: Filled up his mantle after being named 2010 MLS Defender of the Year, earning a spot on the MLS “Best XI” team, and being named to his first MLS All-Star Team as a member of the “First XI” … Key reason Real Salt Lake smashed the MLS record for fewest goals allowed in a season, the Utah side allowing only 20 goals in its 30 contests (previous record 23 GA by 2007 Houston Dynamo) … In the process of gaining that record, also played most every minute in RSL’s 567-minute and 568-minute shutout streaks, the 3rd and 4th longest such runs in League annals … Started all 33 appearances (2,953 minutes) and scored four goals across MLS regular season, MLS Cup Playoff and CONCACAF Champions League action … All four of his goals were scored at Rio Tinto Stadium, meaning all nine of his career tallies (MLS & CCL) have come in home contests … His 27 games played and starts and 2,413 minutes were all high-water marks for his three-year MLS career … Made his 50th career MLS appearance on 4/01 @ HOU and followed with his 50th start in League play on 4/10 v. SEA … Scored first goal of the season on 5/01 v. TOR, following up Saborío’s shot on the doorstep to open the scoring in a 2-1 win … Continued on the attack a week later on 5/08 v. PHI, notching an insurance tally in the 51st minute of a 3-0 win … The two-game goal binge (5/1 v. TOR, 5/8 v. PHI) was the second such streak of his MLS career (4/11/09 v. DC, 4/25/09 v. NE) … Got on the end of Morales’ free kick into the six on 7/02 v. NE, tallying RSL’s second goal in the 5-0 drubbing of the Revs … In his All-Star debut, started and played 45 minutes on 7/28 on behalf of MLS vs. Manchester United in the EPL side’s 5-2 win in front of 70,728 fans at Houston’s Reliant Stadium …Made CCL debut in Group A opener on 8/18 v. Árabe Unido, going the full 90 minutes in a wild 2-1 win … Missed RSL’s 4-5 loss @ Cruz Azul on 8/25 due to tweaked MCL in left knee just two training sessions prior to game … Suspended for 9/09 @ SEA due to yellow card caution accumulation, marking the only match he missed in 2010 due to disciplinary reasons … Tallied game-winning goal in critical CONCACAF Champions League match on 9/15 vs. Toronto with 40’ header off Williams free kick to give RSL a lead in the eventual 4-1 win … Also started CCL away matches on 9/22 @ Árabe Unido (3-2 W) and 9/28 @ TOR (1-1), the latter earning the standings point RSL needed to ensure advancement to the knockout phase … Went the full 180 minutes across both legs of RSL’s Western Conference Semifinal Series defeat to FC Dallas (2-3 on aggregate).

2009: Named RSL’s 2009 Defensive Player of the Year after starting 24 of 25 appearances … One of 3 players on RSL with 3 goals in 2009, finishing T-3rd on the squad … Has 4 goals in RSL’s 17 regular season contests at Rio Tinto Stadium since opening in Oct. 2008 (3rd most goals at RTS) … Played all 420 minutes for RSL in postseason play en route to helping the Utah side claim its first MLS Cup title … Scored in back-to-back games for first time in RSL uniform, first tallying an immediate equalizer on 4/11 v. DC (40’) that led to a 2-1 comeback win … Followed that up on 4/25 v. NE by opening RSL’s historic account in the 53’, his GWG opening the floodgates during the second half of a 6-0 trouncing of the Revs … Missed 4/18 @ NY contest (DNP-Coach’s Decision) in between his scoring forays due to precautionary reasons related to surgically-repaired right knee and playing on hardened FieldTurf at Giants Stadium … Played all 90 minutes on 4/28 @ SEA in a 1-4 defeat in qualifying play for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup … Returned to play on 7/03 v. SJ after missing 6/27 v. TOR match due to red card suspension (6/20 @ HOU, 58’), his second red card of 2009 season (5/02 @ COL, 41’) … Started and played all 90 minutes on 7/11 v. Club América in the 1-0 XanGo Cup victory … Missed match on 8/23 @ NE due to yellow card accumulation, his third contest missed due to disciplinary reasons this season … Return to scoresheet on 9/12 v. CHI was worth the wait, as his in-stride volley of Andy Williams’ 50-yard ball over the top 18 minutes from time brought the match to its eventual 1-1 finish … Received third red card of the season on 9/19 @ HOU and sat out on 9/26 @ DAL … Started friendly on 10/07 v. CD Guadalajara (MEX) but wouldn’t finish the first half, an altercation with Chivas FW Edgar Solis resulting in their ejections just prior to halftime (49+’) … Put discipline problems behind him for the postseason, going the full 90 minutes in both wins v. CLB in the East Semifinal Series and playing all 120 minutes in the Eastern Conf. Championship on 11/14 @ CHI and MLS Cup 2009 on 11/22 v. LA at Seattle’s Qwest Field.

2008: After sitting for RSL’s first four contests, Olave started 23 of RSL’s last 26 matches, scoring twice in the process … Played 90 minutes in 21 of 23 MLS appearances, including his last 19 … Partnered with Nat Borchers to form one of the most formidable center back tandems across the League … Made his MLS debut on 4/26 @ DC, playing an impressive 90 minutes in central defense … Played the first half of RSL’s 1-2 international friendly loss on 7/23 v. Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica … Scored his first career MLS goal on 7/28 v. TOR … played the first half in two of RSL’s three international friendlies: 7/23 v. Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) and 9/03 v. UANL Tigres (MEX) … Became surprise choice to score RSL’s first-ever goal at Rio Tinto Stadium on 10/09 v. NY by converting from 9 yards out on a Morales corner kick (41’) … His nine cautions (T-2nd in MLS) led to a pair of one-match caution accumulation suspensions (8/16 @ HOU & 10/04 @ NE) … Started all three of RSL’s postseason contests, tallying 246 minutes of action in helping the squad reach the brink of MLS Cup.

International Club Career

2001, 2005-07: Deportivo Cali – Colombia Copa Mustang (First Division): Broke into professional ranks with the storied Colombian side in 2001 … Returned to the squad in 2005, helping Deportivo Cali to its eighth domestic championship in the now Copa Mustang.

2004: Chicó FC - Colombia Copa Mustang (First Division)

2003: CD Patriotas FC – Colombia Copa Concasa (Second Division)

2002: Atletico Huela - Colombia Copa Mustang (First Division)

Personal

Full name is Jamison Olave Mosquera … Pronounced HA-mee-son oh-LAH-vay … His nickname, “El Goro,” is a reference to the classic video game Mortal Kombat.